Letters to the Editor for June 14, 2013

Published: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 9:23 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 9:23 p.m.

Let's see if I get this right. The Legislature turned down $51 billion from the feds for health insurance over ten years because ... I wish I could finish that sentence.

What I have been hearing is something like the R's don't believe the feds will pay the money, the health system is broken, Obamacare is worse than what we have now and the deficit is bad.

Well, OK. But is it really true that the Legislature decided that it would be better if a million low-income Floridians will not have health insurance even though the law says the feds have to pay 100 percent of the cost for the next three years and no less than 90 percent thereafter?

And is it really true that the Legislature doesn't even want that benefit for the three years that there is no cost to Floridians? Really?

Let's step back a moment. We're talking about a million people getting about $5,000 per year of health insurance paid by the feds. That's $5 billion a year. Multiply that by 10 and you get to $50 billion over 10 years.

That money would go to private insurance companies to pay for doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. And the Legislature turned that down.

Pray tell. Surely there is some explanation.

Come on, R's. Tell us why you turned down that much money. (The silence is deafening …)

Steven M. Chamberlain

Ocala

God-free logo

Recently, the city of Ocala changed its logo, which read "God Be With Us." It was removed from all city vehicles, city workers' uniforms, and all other city-related venues.

Did they do this to appease the less than 1 percent of the population who are atheists? The logo didn't specify any particular god, thus giving title to a god of any faith. I'm sure the residents of Ocala, who believe in God, are the majority, yet the city leaders felt it necessary to conform to the wishes of a small group.

I'm sure God, whoever we believe God to be, will be saddened by this omission, and if the city of Ocala no longer wishes God to be with us, then how can we expect God to care for Ocala.

All I can say is, please, God, forgive us.

Lin Holland

Silver Springs

Our kids, our future

I am in shock about how the cuts were handed out by our school system. Who does this to our kids who need their teachers to excel in not only academics, but in other aspects of life?

One school in particular is Madison Street. Things like social skills, rules, etiquette and treating our kids as a whole is what the P.E. teachers of Madison Street are about. The school will lose not only classroom teachers, but the duo of Ms. Beckwith and Ms. Behr. They are Madison Street and many siblings long to be chosen to do video the next year, an extra bonus not on the classroom mandate, but something that is done on their own. This bonus has been in place for many years.

All the extra hours both do to have kids want to come to school to learn will be lost, as will the kids.

I can say this because I am a former parent whose kids attended Madison Street. I am so thankful for both of these P.E. teachers and more. They helped mold my kids into the wonderful adults they are today.

There must be a better way. Did we not just hear of money that was to be given to teachers by Gov. Scott two months ago? Where did it all go? Why is the state mandating where the county uses their money? Why is $11 million of the $13 million already earmarked by the state?

I don't understand why we pay someone millions to dribble a ball and shoot it into a basket, yet those who influence and teach our kids life lessons get fired or make minimum wage. Why do the kids, our future, have to suffer?

Letty Cortez

Ocala

A Belk beneficiary

Go, Belk! Honoring 125 years in business and providing a scholarship to a grateful Marion County resident who earned an associate's degree in 1978 from CFCC.

During the last semester, I was asked to initiate an activity to describe the need for a child-care center and lab and began to obtain start-up funds. This was under the directorship of the late Martha Henry.

The dream did come alive.

Again, thank you Belk-Lindsey for opening doors to many opportunities. After graduation I worked for the Title XX Program, Head Start Pre-K, while continuing to further my education — and as individuals grew into adults, they came back to say thank you to me.

I thank you for your help. I retired after 35 years. Imagine the children and parents lives you have assisted in helping by providing me with a scholarship.

Cynthia L. Williams

Ocala

No big dogs

Please take note: out of all the people let go from the school system, none of them are high-paid personnel.

I think it is time to go for the big dogs at the School Board. Let's give them more responsibilities and take some of their pay away and see what they think then.

I feel bad for the kids next school year. Good luck, and I hope everyone gets their jobs back.

<p>No good reason</p><p>Let's see if I get this right. The Legislature turned down $51 billion from the feds for health insurance over ten years because ... I wish I could finish that sentence.</p><p>What I have been hearing is something like the R's don't believe the feds will pay the money, the health system is broken, Obamacare is worse than what we have now and the deficit is bad.</p><p>Well, OK. But is it really true that the Legislature decided that it would be better if a million low-income Floridians will not have health insurance even though the law says the feds have to pay 100 percent of the cost for the next three years and no less than 90 percent thereafter?</p><p>And is it really true that the Legislature doesn't even want that benefit for the three years that there is no cost to Floridians? Really?</p><p>Let's step back a moment. We're talking about a million people getting about $5,000 per year of health insurance paid by the feds. That's $5 billion a year. Multiply that by 10 and you get to $50 billion over 10 years.</p><p>That money would go to private insurance companies to pay for doctors, hospitals and other health care providers. And the Legislature turned that down.</p><p>Pray tell. Surely there is some explanation.</p><p>Come on, R's. Tell us why you turned down that much money. (The silence is deafening …)</p><p><i>Steven M. Chamberlain</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p> </p><p>God-free logo</p><p>Recently, the city of Ocala changed its logo, which read "God Be With Us." It was removed from all city vehicles, city workers' uniforms, and all other city-related venues.</p><p>Did they do this to appease the less than 1 percent of the population who are atheists? The logo didn't specify any particular god, thus giving title to a god of any faith. I'm sure the residents of Ocala, who believe in God, are the majority, yet the city leaders felt it necessary to conform to the wishes of a small group.</p><p>I'm sure God, whoever we believe God to be, will be saddened by this omission, and if the city of Ocala no longer wishes God to be with us, then how can we expect God to care for Ocala.</p><p>All I can say is, please, God, forgive us.</p><p><i>Lin Holland</p><p>Silver Springs</i></p><p> </p><p>Our kids, our future</p><p>I am in shock about how the cuts were handed out by our school system. Who does this to our kids who need their teachers to excel in not only academics, but in other aspects of life?</p><p>One school in particular is Madison Street. Things like social skills, rules, etiquette and treating our kids as a whole is what the P.E. teachers of Madison Street are about. The school will lose not only classroom teachers, but the duo of Ms. Beckwith and Ms. Behr. They are Madison Street and many siblings long to be chosen to do video the next year, an extra bonus not on the classroom mandate, but something that is done on their own. This bonus has been in place for many years.</p><p>All the extra hours both do to have kids want to come to school to learn will be lost, as will the kids.</p><p>I can say this because I am a former parent whose kids attended Madison Street. I am so thankful for both of these P.E. teachers and more. They helped mold my kids into the wonderful adults they are today.</p><p>There must be a better way. Did we not just hear of money that was to be given to teachers by Gov. Scott two months ago? Where did it all go? Why is the state mandating where the county uses their money? Why is $11 million of the $13 million already earmarked by the state?</p><p>I don't understand why we pay someone millions to dribble a ball and shoot it into a basket, yet those who influence and teach our kids life lessons get fired or make minimum wage. Why do the kids, our future, have to suffer?</p><p><i>Letty Cortez</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p> </p><p>A Belk beneficiary</p><p>Go, Belk! Honoring 125 years in business and providing a scholarship to a grateful Marion County resident who earned an associate's degree in 1978 from CFCC.</p><p>During the last semester, I was asked to initiate an activity to describe the need for a child-care center and lab and began to obtain start-up funds. This was under the directorship of the late Martha Henry.</p><p>The dream did come alive.</p><p>Again, thank you Belk-Lindsey for opening doors to many opportunities. After graduation I worked for the Title XX Program, Head Start Pre-K, while continuing to further my education — and as individuals grew into adults, they came back to say thank you to me.</p><p>I thank you for your help. I retired after 35 years. Imagine the children and parents lives you have assisted in helping by providing me with a scholarship.</p><p><i>Cynthia L. Williams</p><p>Ocala</i></p><p> </p><p>No big dogs</p><p>Please take note: out of all the people let go from the school system, none of them are high-paid personnel.</p><p>I think it is time to go for the big dogs at the School Board. Let's give them more responsibilities and take some of their pay away and see what they think then.</p><p>I feel bad for the kids next school year. Good luck, and I hope everyone gets their jobs back.</p><p><i>Paula Williams</p><p>Ocala</i></p>